Display rack for drapes or the like



Nov. 30, 1943. A. BERSIN ETAL I 2,335,379

DISPLAY RACK FOR DRAPE'S OR THE LIKE Filed May 21, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l mu W mumum INVENTOBS Alber/ Bars/n Lou/Is Samua/s BY numb/Ma, I

ATTORNEY Nov. 30,1943. A. BERSIN ETAL 2,335,379

DISPLAY RACK FOR DRAPES OR THE LIKE I Filed May 21, 1941 2 Shee ts-Sheet 2 INV NTQRS l/befrf era/n Lou/.5 amua:

BYv v Patented Nov. 30, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPLAY RACK FOR DRmPES OR THE LIKE 14 Claims.

This invention relates to a display rack for drapes, curtains or other hangings, bed-spreads, blankets, rugs, and in general, flexible sheet materials of relatively large extent.

Th term drapes is used throughout for the sake of simplicity, but it is to be understood that said term is intended to have a broad enough meaning to include the other items noted above.

In displaying a pile of drapes, considerable physical effort is required to spread them out individually and then to remove the individual drape to make room for the; next one to be displayed. The removed drapes are usually piled in confusion all over the place. More effort is then required to stack up the removed drapes into a neat pile for the next demonstration. Drapes, because of their relatively great extent and floppiness present a special problem in handling.

In our construction, a display frame is provided on which the drapes may be supported in a pile, in a spread out condition, suitable for displaying the top-drape of the pile, one end of each drape being fastened to a strip of material slidably mounted on guide bars. Successive drapes are displayed by swinging away the top drapes, turning them upside down over the guide bars onto another frame fastened to the display frame. The pile of drapes, whether in display or undisplayed positions, are always held together along one edge preventing thereby disarrangement.

In our preferred form, said strip is of textile material, such as canvas, and is provided with eyelets by means of which it is slidably mounted on the guide bars. It is sewed to one edge of a drape. In order readily to mount the drapes on the rack or take them off, the guide bars are so mounted in one form to free one of their ends to insert them in the eyelets. In another form, the bars are split into two lengths which can be spread apart at the split so that the free ends at the split can be inserted into the eyelets. .In another form the strip means itself is provided with catch devices for removably attaching them to the guide bars.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent upon further study of the descriptionand drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of the rack shown without any drapes set upon it.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same rack shown with drapes upon it.

Fig. 3 shows a fragment of a drape with the means attached thereto for .slidably mounting it upon the guides.

Fig. 4 is a partial section taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a partial section to an enlarged scale taken along the line 55 of Fig. 1 and shows a part of a drape in displayed position and apart of another drape in undisplayed position.

Fig. 6 is a partial longitudinal section through a rack showing a modified form of a frame for holding the drapes in undisplayed position with one type of split guide bar.

Fig. 7 is a partial longitudinal section of a rack of the type of Fig; 6 showing the guide bar open at the split.

Fig. 8 is a partial longitudinal section taken similarly to Fig. 7 showing another type of split guide bar.

Fig. 9 shows a fragment of a drape 'with'the means attached thereto for slidably mounting it upon the guides, said means having spring clips for engaging the guides.

Fig. 10 is a partial front elevation showing the mounting of the bar for closing the split guide bar of Fig. 7, a portion of the closing bar being broken out, and

Fig. 11 is a partial front elevation showing the mounting of the bar for closing the split guide bar of Fig. 8.

The display frame, Figs. l-5, comprises longitudinal bars 9 and I0 and transverse bars H. Longitudinal bars 9 continue downward to form legs [2. Additional legs l3 and M are provided. Mounted on longitudinal bars 9 is a platen [5 preferably made of plywood. Between legs I4 is fastened an upper transverse member [6 and a lower transverse member IT. Th frame for holding the drapes in undisplayed position can be said to comprise the upper portions of legs M which continue backward at their portion 18 inclining downwardly at 19 and finally forming rear legs 29. Additional legs 2| .are provided for the undisplay frame, together with transverse bars 22, longitudinal upper bars 23 and'longitudinal lower bars 24. Sufficient bars are provided to form what amounts to a network for supporting the drapes in undisplayed position.

Guide bars 25 extend between transverse members l6 and H, the lower ends of said bars'being pivotally mounted on ears 26, Fig. 5, the latter in turn being fixedly mounted on lower transverse member H. The upper end of each guide bar 25 is slidable through an opening provided in upper transverse member to. .A thumb nut :21 is provided on the outer :end of each guide bar 25 to transverse member 34.

for detachably holding the bars to member H5. The lower ends of bars 25 instead of being pivoted to ears 26 could be fixed to these cars and transverse member I! could be pivotally mounted on legs M to allow guide bars to rotate when nuts 21 are removed. Guide bars 25 are rotated to separate their upper ends from transverse member H3 in order to be able to mount the drapes on the bars.

Drapes 23 are each provided with a strip of material 29 sewed or otherwise removably attached thereto. A line of stitching is indicated at 3%. The material is preferably a textile such as canvas, but it could be of light sheet metal or a plastic. Eyelets 3! are provided in strip 29.

In using the rack, thumb nuts 21' are removed and guide bars 25 turned down to free theirupper ends from transverse member or bar [6. Strip 29 of each drape is then slipped over guide bars 25, by passing the bars through eyelets 3!. With as many drapes as desired mounted on bars 25, the latter are again attached to transverse member I by nuts 27. At first all the drapes 28 rest on the display frame. In Fig. 2, some drapes 28 are shown on the display frame, while others have been lifted to have their strips 29 raised up on guide bars and turned over to rest on the rear frame in undisplayed position. In Fig. 5, the part of the lower drape 28 shown is in displayed posibroken length as shown in Fig. 5, a modified form of guide bar is shown in Figs. 6 and 7, made up of two lengths, the lower length 32 bein fixed The upper length 33 of the guide bar is flexibly resilient with its upper end fixed to transverse membe 35. Normally length 33 is separated from the lower length 32 at the split as shown in Fig. 7. It requires force to bend length 33 down from its position shown in Fig. '7 into contact with lower length 32 as shown in Fig. 6. This force is supplied by means of transverse member 36 which is eccentrically mounted at pivot pin 37 on legs 38 of the-frame. A crank handle 33 is provided at one end of member 36, which when in the position shown in Fig. 7 has the small radius of the eccentricity at the upper lengths 33 of the guide bars, allowing them .all to be separated from lower lengths 32 at the split. This separation enables strips 23 carryin their drapes 28 to be mounted on or removed from the guide bars. In Fig. 6, member 33 is turned with the long radius of the eccentricity at upper lengths 33.

In Fig. 8 is shown still another modification of the guide bars. The lower length 32 is the same as in Figs. 6 and 7 and fixed to a similar transverse member 34, but the upper length 43 which is fixedly mounted on member 4i is not necessarily resiliently flexible. In this case, member 4] is pivotally mounted on legs 33. A crank handle 42 is fixedly mounted on member 4 I. A spring 43 is attached to the outer end of handle 42 at one end, the other end of the spring being attached to member 34. Normally spring 43 pulls down on handle 42, holding upper lengths 40 of the guide bars down against lower lengths 32. Whenever it is desired to mount or remove drapes 28, handle 42 is lifted against the tension of spring 43, to separate the lengths of the guide bars at the split, so that strips 29 with their drapes 28 may be mounted on or removed from the guide bars. The dotted lines show a length 40 in separated position.

Instead of having the frame shown in Figs. 1 and 2 for holding the drapes in undisplayed position, Fig. 6 shows a box or crate like frame comprising vertical leg 38 which is continued backwards and downwards to form piece 44. Extending horizontally and rearwardly from the lower portion of leg 38 is a longitudinal member 45. Member at its rear is turned up to form a post 46. An upper longitudinal member 41 extends from piece 44 to post 63. Only one of each of parts 38, 44,45, 45 and 41 are shown but it will be understood similar parts are provided for the other side of the frame. Transverse members 48 extend between longitudinal members 45. Posts 46 are continued around at the top to form transverse member 49. Lower transverse member 50 connects the lower ends of posts 43. Intermediate posts 5| are provided at various points around the frame, extending between upper and lower horizontal members. A plywood platen 52 is provided between members 48 at the bottom of the frame for the drapes to rest on when in undisplayed position. As in Fig. l, platen 15 extends forward for holding the drapes in displayed position.

Instead of providing guide bars which may be freed at the ends, as in Figs. 1 and 5 or in the middle as in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, for the insertion or removal of the drapes from the rack, they can be made fixed atthe top and bottom. In this case, the strip which is attachable to the drapes is provided with means which are detachable from the guide bars as seen in Fig. 9. Strip 53 has attached thereto spring clips 54. These clips are of well kown construction, being provided with spring tongues 55 which can be pressed inward to open the clips for attachment to the guide bars. Strip 53 may be sewed or otherwise fastened to a drape28.

The bars shown may be solid or tubular and not necessarily round.

We claim:

1. A display rack for drapes comprising a frame providing a substantially horizontal support for holding the drapes spread out substantiall horizontally in displayed position, a second frame attached to the first frame for holding the drapes in undisplayed position, said frames being connected in back to back relationship, an upper and a lower transverse member located substantially at the junction of the frames, said mem- 'bers being'in spaced relation, transversely spaced guide members extending between said transverse members, said guide members having an upwardly extending portion, and means removably attachable to the drapes for holding them to the guide members, said meansbeing slidably mounted on the guide members, sliding thereon to permit the change of drapes from displayed to undisplayed position said meansbeing on said protion when the drapes are in displayed position.

2. A display rack for drapes comprising a frame for holding the drapes spread out in displayed position, a second frame attached to the display frame for holding the drapes in undisplayed position, said frames being connected in back to back relationship, transversely spaced guide bars located substantially at the junction of the frames, means attachable to the drapes for holding the latter to the guide bars, sliding thereon to permit the change of drapesfrom displayed to undisplayed position, and a transverse member on one of the frames, said bars at one end being releasably fastened to the transverse member a second transverse member attached to one of the frames, said bars at their other end being mounted on said second transverse member and being rotatable with respect to the frames.

3. A display rack for drapes comprising a frame for holding th drapes in displayed position, a second frame attached to the display frame for holding the drapes in undisplayed position, said frames being connected in back to back relationship, transversely spaced guide bars extending in unbroken length substantially at the junction of the frames, means attachable to the drapes for holding the latter to the guide bars, sliding thereon to permit the change of drapes from displayed to undisplayed position, and a transverse bar on one of the frames, said guide bars being removably attached at one end to said transverse bar a second transverse member attached to one of the frames, said bars at their other end being mounted on said second transverse member and being rotatable with respect to the frames.

4. A display rack for drapes comprising a frame for holding the drapes in displayed position, a second frame attached to the display frame for holding the drapes in undisplayed position, said frames being connected in back to back relationship, a pair of spaced transverse bars located substantially at the junction of the frames, a plurality of transversely spaced guide bars extending between said transverse bars, each bar being split into two lengths, one length being rigidly fixed at its end away from the split to one of the transverse bars, the other length being mounted at its end away from the split on the other transverse bar andmovable at its end adjacent the split away from the first length, and means attachable to the drapes for holding the latter to the guide bars, sliding thereon to permit the change of drapes from displayed to undisplayed position when the lengths of the guide bars are in contact with each other at the split.

5. A display rack for drapes comprising a frame for holding the drapes in displayed position, a second frame attached to the display frame for holding the drapes in undisplayed position, said frames being connected in back to back relationship, a pair of spaced transverse members located substantially at the junction of the frames, a plurality of transversely spaced guide bars extending between said transverse members, each bar being split into two lengths, one length being fixed to one of the transverse members, the other length being mounted on the other transverse member, said latter length being provided with a spring bias to have its end at the split normally away from the first length, means for forcing against said bias the latter length into contact with the first length at the split, and means attachable to the drapes for holding the latter to the guide bars, sliding thereon to permit the change of drapes from displayed to undisplayed position, when the lengths of the guide bars are in contact with each other at the split.

6. A display rack for drapes comprising a frame for holding the drapes in displayed position, a second frame attached to the display frame for holding the drapes in undisplayed position, said frames being connected in back to back relationship, a pair of spaced transverse bars located substantially at the junction of the frames, a plurality of transversely spaced guide bars extending between said transverse bars, each bar being split into two lengths, one length being fixed to one of the transverse bars, the second length being mounted on the other transverse bar normally to have its end at the split away from the first length, manually operable means for bending the second length against its resiliency to have its end at the split .brought into contact with said first length, and means attachable to the drapes for holding the latter to the guide bars, sliding thereon to permit the change of drapes from displayed to undisplayed position, when the lengths of the guide bars are in contact with each other at the split.

'7. Adisplay rack for drapes comprising a frame for holding the drapes in displayed position, a second frame attached to the display frame for holding the drapes in undisplayed position, said frames being connected in back to back relationship, a pair of spaced transverse bars located substantially at the junction of the frames, a plurality of transversely spaced guideibars extending between said transverse bars, each bar being split into two lengths, one length being fixed to one of the transverse bars, the second length being mounted on the other transverse bar normally to have its end at the split away from the first length, a transverse member rotatabl mounted on one of the frames adjacent the second lengths having its portions opposite the second lengths eccentric with respect to its axis of rotation, whereby when said member is rotated, the second portions are bent against their resiliency into contact with the first lengths, and means attachable to the drapes for holding the latter to the guide bars, sliding thereon to permit the change of drapes'from displayed to undisplayed position, when the lengths of the guide bars are in contact with each other at the split.

8. A display rack for drapes comprising-av frame for holding the drapes in displayed position, a second frame attached to the display fram for holding the drapes in undisplayed position, said frames being connected in back to back relationship, a pair of spaced transverse members located substantially at the junction of the frames, a plurality of transversely spaced guide bars extending between said transverse members, each bar being split into two lengths, one length being fixed to one of the transverse members, the other length being fixedly mounted on the other transverse member, said second transverse member being rotatably mounted on one of the frames with a spring bias to cause the end of the second length at the split to be held yieldingly against the first length, and means attachable to the drapes for holding the latter to the guide bars, sliding thereon to permit the change of drapes from displayed to undisplayed position.

9. A display rack for drapes comprising a frame for holding the drapes in displayed position, a second frame attached to the display frame for holding the drapes in undisplayed position, said frames being connected in back to back relationship, a pair of spaced transverse members located substantially at the junction of the frames, a plurality of transversely spaced guide bars extending between said transverse members, each bar being split into two lengths, one length being fixed to one of the transverse members, the second length being fixed to the other of the transverse members, said latter member being rotatably mounted on one of the frames, spring means attached to said latter member and a frame, said spring means normally holding said latter memher against rotation that would bring said second length away from the first length at the split, and means attachable to the drapes for holding the latter to the guide bars, sliding thereonto permit the change of drapes from displayed to undisplayed position.

10. A display rack for drapes comprising a frame having a portion providing a substantially horizontal support for holding the drapes spread out substantially horizontally in display position, said frame having another portion for holding the drapes in undisplayed position, transverse members supported on the frame substantially at the junction of said portions, guide members mounted on the transverse members and means attachable to the drapes for holding them to said guide members, said means being slidably mounted on the guide members, sliding thereon to permit the change of drapes from displayed to undisplayed position, said guide members extending upwardly where said means are attached to them when the drapes are in displayed position.

11. A display rack for drapes comprising a frame having a portion providing a, substantially horizontal support for holding the drapes spread out substantially horizontally in displayed position, said frame having another portion for holding the drapes in undisplayed position, transverse members supported on the frame substantially at the junction of said portions, guide bars mounted on the transverse members, and means attachable to the drapes for holding them to said bars, said means being slidably mounted on the guide bars, sliding thereon to permit the change of drapes from displayed to undisplayed position, the lower part of said bars extending substantially vertically, said means being mounted on said vertical parts when the drapes are in displayed position.

12. A display rack for drapes comprising a frame having a portion providing a substantially horizontal support for holding the drapes spread out substantially horizontally in displayed position, said frame having another portion for holding the drapes in undisplayed position, transverse members supported on the frame substantially at the junction of said portions, guide bars mounted on the transverse members and means attachable to the drapes for holding them to said bars, said means being slidably mounted on the guide bars, sliding thereon to permit the change of drapes from displayed to undisplayed position, each bar being split into two lengths separable at the split, one of said lengths for each bar being substantially vertical, said means being mounted on the substantially vertical lengths of the bars when the drapes are in displayed position.

13. A display rack for drapes comprising a frame having a portion extending substantially horizontally and formed to support and display the drapes by having them lie upon it spread out in a substantially horizontal position, said frame having another portion for holding the drapes away from said first portion in undisplayed position, a pair of transverse members mounted on the frame substantially at the junction of said portions, transversely spaced guide connected to said transverse members, and means attachable to the drapes for holding the latter to the guides, said means being slidably mounted on the guides, sliding thereon to permit the change of drapes from displayed to undisplayed position, said guides each having an upwardly extending portion upon which the attaching means set one above the other when the drapes are in displayed position.

14. A display rack for drapes comprising a frame having a portion for holding the drapes spread out in displayed position, said frame having a second portion made up of a plurality of members to form a crib-like structure to act as a container for holding the drapes substantially within it in undisplayed position, transverse members mounted on the frame at a location substantially between said portions, guides mounted on said members, and means attachable to the drapes for holding the latter to the guides, said means being movably mounted with respect to the guides, to permit the change of drapes from displayed to undisplayed position.

ALBERT BERSIN. LOUIS SAMUELS. 

